The President gave the State of the Union last night, laying out his policy goals (targeted spending, increased exporting, a five year freeze on federal discretionary spending, a defense of the health care reform bill, amongst other things), using the speech to frame the coming battle with Republicans over priorities for the next two years. The Republican response, delivered by Rep. Paul Ryan, seemed to me to suffer from the same lack of specifics that have plagued the Republicans for the last year. They will eventually have to produce a Continuing Budget Resolution for this year, since the current one expires in March. That will, along with the vote to raise the federal debt ceiling, will bring the flash point between the President and Republicans and could lead to the government shutdown I believe is coming.

The President threw out plenty for the Republicans to like, including an offer of tort reform in health care and reductions in the corporate tax rate. But the battle will be joined, even with the President moving towards the center. The Republican hard right is about to overplay, and with that overplay the President will be poised to recapture the center (and that big bloc of independent voters).

5 Responses to The President's State of the Union Speech (Enhanced)

Your Honor,
Based on your complaint of Republican Paul Ryan not giving specifics, why don’t you show me an example of what proper specific are like as presented by President Obama in his classic speech.

A good place to start is to use the subjects debt reduction and job creation.

Will plead the President guilty on the charge of no specifics on debt reduction. On job creation as well. But the fact still remains that the President has continually said that debt reduction should wait until economic recovery begins, while the Republicans have said cutting should begin NOW. On that basis, and with a new majority, they ought to be backing up their campaign promises and saying where the cuts will come from.

Your Honor,
I believe the President is devoid of any detail. The republicans will present their program, which I hope will address entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare which are behind by multi-billions. Could be tough.I hope we have the guts.

What should be interesting is the role the Tea Party will take. My hope they would be the conscious of the conservatives and keep them from taking safe positions.

We will see.

Meanwhile you will not see specifics as it becomes the target of the Liberal Progressive party. The law makers will have to face these obstacles in the house and senate.